Flashlight synchronizing device



July 1 4, 193e. G. A LEY I 2,047,877

v FLASHLIGHT SYNCHRONIZING DEVICE*- Filed May 2o, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 1 July. 14, 1936. G. A, LEY n 2,047,877

` FLASHLIGHT SYNCHRONIZING DEVICE Filed May 20, 1932 2 Sheets-,Sheet 2" Hllif V Patented i...

" ,l ,FLASHLIGHT sYNcnaoNIzlNG DEVICE George A. Ley, Chicago, Ill. y 'Appucmonmy 2o, 1922, serial No. 612,468

' 11l Claims.

l' The present invention relates to improvements in :devices for synchronizing camera shutter release mechanisms with the ignition or explosion of a vcharge offlash powder oraash lamp, valthough a ash lamp is chosen as the preferred embodiment..

,"Synchronizing.v devices l,of the type above re-' ferred to have beenobjefctionablein that they are rfl() all'of a more or less complicated nature and generally comprise' a large number of movable or ad- ,"jus'table parts. f

yAn object of the present'invention, accordingly, is to produce a simple compact device of y j this character which will perform its function in ahi'ghly eicientr manner, have only one adjustment, andv be free of the above-specified dis- 20 which they were applied.

manner.

More specically stated, the object of this in- 30` t l agcameraf shutter release mechanism through the.

. advantages.

if 'Prior synchronizing devices have been undesirable in that they usually constituted a permanent and undetachable part of the camera to Accordingly, a further object of the present invention is to provide av synchronizing device which is readily portable from one camera to an- ,other and isapplicable to any desired type of d modification in any Asha-pe or cameray without vention isfto provide a device which will simultaneo close an electrical circuit and actuate kap;ilifcati'of a singleexternal force. Y

1 flhe preferred embodiment of the invention residesinproviding Ya. pair of members pivoted'together, each of such lmembers containing a contactpoint and one of them being provided with -means tov retainthe stationary portion of a cable Atypeshutter release mechanism. On movement of 'the two pivoted members relative to one another, the device will be actuated-simultaneously to-release the camera shutter and ignite or activate the flash charge or flash lamp.

1 Itwill thusbe seenV that the performance of this double operation is greatly facilitated and v*simplified inasmuch as only a single manipulajfofjth" mechanisms.

, Further objects of the invention will appear more fully as the description proceeds.

ff-In the accompanying drawings,.which illus-v trate one embodiment of the invention; y',:Iifigure 1 is a perspective view of a camera, flash lamp, and theimproved synchronizershowing the .manner of assembling them for operation.

.f yFigure '2 is a side elevational view of the synt onlis', required of the operatorfor the actuation chronizer partly broken awayshowing the cont struction thereof.

. sition.

l Figure 5 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 2 but showing a modification of the synchronizer.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view showing the modied form of synchronizer in closed position.

Figure 7' is a sectional view of the modified form of synchronizer taken on the line VII-VII of Fig. 5.

Referring in detail tothe drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, it will be seenthat the first form of the device oi' the invention and disclosed inFigures 1 to 4 comprisesa base plate I and a member I2, each beingk fabricated of hard rubber, phenolic condensation material or r`some similar insulating or non-conducting material. The members I0 andv I2 arepivoted together as at I 4 and interposed therebetween is a link I6 pivoted at I8 to the `base member I 0 and containing a slot 20 in which pin 22, fast to the member I2, has sliding .engagement'to prevent undue separation of members I0 and I2.

Screw threaded into the pivoted member I2 intermediate its endsis an adjustable contact member 24, adapted, on closingA movement of members I0 and I2, to engage a fixed contact member 26 provided on the upper side of base member I0 intermediate the ends thereof, in-

Aregistering .relationwith the adjustable contact 24.

The connections leading to the flash lamp 28 or tothe charge of ash powder a're introduced-y into the base plate I0 through a. plug 30 which is provided with contacts 32 and 34.- To contact 3i.v there is soldered or otherwise attached a conductor 36 of any desired type which leads to the upper contact` 24 to which it is attached by nut 1 metallic portion of a cable type shutter release mechanisml52 which leads to a camera 43. A

countersunk or rabbeted portion 46 is provided around the upper surface of aperture 42 to receive the circular extended portion 48 usual in cable release mechanisms.

The aperture 42 is slotted as at 50 adjacent the forward end of member I to facilitate the introduction thereinto of release mechanism 52.

A spring clip 54 is frictionally retained upon the base member I0 and is adapted to be slid forward so as partially to overlie the circular stationary portion 48 of the cable release mechanism 52 to retain that member in position.

The plunger 56 of cable release mechanism 52 is adapted to engage with its head the underside of pivoted member I2. It will be understood that the return spring usual in cable release mechanisms tends to open the synchronizing switch and is of suicient strength to maintain the free ends of the pivoted members I0 and I2 in spaced relation until an external force is applied.

It will also be understood that this external force may be applied by any means, the device of the invention being peculiarly adapted because of its simplicity and its foolproof qualities to the apprehension of criminals by photography and to the securing'of nocturnal photographs of wild life.

The wiring of' the device is illustrated in Figure 1, the flash lamp 28 and synchronizer being connected in series. Any suitable source of power 60 may be utilized depending on the type of flash lamp or charge igniter employed. Flash lamps of the illustrated type are supplied in battery or city current sizes.

In the modification as illustrated in Figures 5 to '7, it will be noted that the synchronizer is of the same general type as the rst form with a slight alteration of the circuit closing means.

This modification is more readily assembled than the type first described since the necessity of soldering conductors 36 and 40 to plug contacts 32 and 34 is entirely obviated. Moreover, the number of parts is materially reduced.

In this modication the arms I0 and I2 are pivoted together at I4 and the limiting spacer I6 is constructed as in the first form. The shutter release mechanism 52 is retained and actuated by the same set of instrumentalities and in the same manner as previously disclosed in connection with Figures 1 to 4.

The adjustable contact member 24 is secured in the upper arm I2 about midway of said upper arm as in the first form, but plug 30 is introduced into the lower arm ID with its contacts registering with'v contact 24. These plug contacts -are preferably aligned transversely of the synchroniz- Secured to the base member I0 by a screw32 is a curved spring member 64 of brass or other conducting material. Said spring member preferably is formed to extend rearwardly from screw 62 and to curve forwardly so that its uppermost end will underlie and engage contact 24 in all adjusted positions of that member due to the spring nature of member 64.

Spring member 64 is sufciently broad at its forward end to overlie both plug contacts 32 and 34 and is adapted, upon the synchronizers being closed, to be depressed by contact member 24 and brought into engaging relation to plug con-l tacts 32 and 34. In this manner the electrical circuit will be closed across the plug contacts. It should also be noted that spring member 64 is of a exible nature-and can readily accommodate itself to the variations or differences in .voltage type lamps is appreciably diminished as well as the number of parts materially reduced and the ease of` assembling greatly increased.

It will be understood that the spring nature of member 64 also serves to maintain arms I0 and I2 in spaced relation.

It will of course be recognized and appreciated that a pneumatic or bulb type of shutterrelease may be employed in place of the cable release mechanism illustrated without necessitating material alteration and the employment of such type ofv release is contemplated as being within the spirit and scope of this invention.

In order to synchronize the camera and the switch, the back of the camera may be removed and test flashes taken with the switch connected to a small battery type incandescent bulb. The

screw 24 on the synchronizer may be. adjusted after loosening lock'nut 38 in order that the circuit may be closed at any given time relative to the shutters releasing.

Having thus disclosed my invention, .what I claim and desire to secure by. Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device of the type described comprising, a pair of members pivotally connected, each having a free end, one of said members being provided with an orice for retaining a stationary portion of a shutter release mechanism, and Y said members being provided with means adapt ed to close an electrical fiash circuit through single point contact as distinguished from sliding contact. 1 A

2. An article of the class described comprising, a pair of pivotally connected arms, contact points on said arms for closing an electrical flash circuit, one of said points being adjustable toward` 'or fromthe other to vary the time of contact, and

,members, electrical circuit closing means upon said members.' an aperture in one of said members, and a clip slidable on said last mentioned member to a position overlying. said aperture said clip and aperture being adapted to retain stationary a portion of'a camera shutter release mechanism. A

5. A device of the class described comprising, a pair of members pivoted together at one of their ends and each having a free end, said members each being provided upon facing portions thereof with a'contact for closing a flash circuit,

, and one of said members being provided adjacent its free end with an orice for retaining stationary a portion of a shutter release mechanism. 6. An article of the class described comprising,

la pair of pivotally connected arms, contact mem- 75 bers between opposed surfaces of said arms for closing an electrical ilash circuit. and means on one of said arms for retaining stationary a portion "of a shutter release mechanism.

7. A synchronizing switch comprising a pair of connected arms, means connected to one of said arms and contacting a projection on `the other of said arms, said means being adapted to be depressed rinto contact with a projection upon said first mentioned arm, and an orifice in one of said arms adapted to receive a part of a shutter release mechanism.

8. A synchronizing switch comprising a pair of pivotally connected arms, a spring clip, contact members on one of said arms, meanssecured to one of said arms but adapted to be actuated by the other of said arms to close an electrical iiash circuit by engaging said contact members, and

the immovable element of said shutter release mechanism may be attached thereto, and a switch contact, and the other of which members embodies a switch contact adapted to co-operate with the contact carried by said other member and is engageable with the movable element of said shutter release mechanism, an electrical source, and circuit forming connections between said source and said bulb including therein said switch contacts.

10, Flashlight apparatus embodying therein the combination with a camera having a shutter', and a mechanical release mechanism therefor comprising an immovable sheathing, and a wire movable vin said sheathing and projecting beyond opposite ends thereof, of a support for a ilash bulb unconnected with. and movable independently of, said camera, a control device embodying therein two members, and a hinge connection between said members at one end thereof, one of said members embodying means whereby said sheathing may be attached thereto, and a switch contact, and the other of said members embodying a switch contact adapted to coopervate with the contact carried bysaid-other member and to engage the projecting end of said movable wire. an electrical source, and circuit forming connections between said source and said bulb including therein said switch contacts.

11. yFlashlight apparatus embodying therein the combination with a camera having a shutter, and a mechanical release mechanism therefor having immovable and movable elements, of a support for a flash bulb unconnected with, and movable independently of, said camera, a control device embodying therein two relatively movable members, one of which embodies means whereby the immovable element of said shutter release mechanism may; be attached thereto, and a switch contact, and the other of which members has adjustably mounted therein a switch con' tact adapted to cooperate with the contact carried by said other member and is engageabl'e with the movable element of said shutter release mechanism, an electricalk source, and circuit forming connections between said source and I said bulb including therein said switch contacts.

GEORGE A. LEY. 

